Stretcher and cot combination



Nov. 8, 1955 2,722,690

A. J. DONARGO STRETCHER AND COT COMBINATION Filed July l5, 1953 Q.nilrlllllllllz :will UI.. l

4 INVENTOR ANTHONY J. DONARGO BY /JWM @aM/f,

ATTORNEY United States Patent O STRETCHER AND (20T COMBINATION AnthonyJ. Donargo, New York, N. Y.

Application July 13, 1953, Serial No. 367,379

9 Claims. (Cl. 5-8) The present invention relates to a novel stretcherand cot combination which is foldable and stackable.

During periods of disaster such as those caused by large scale bombings,floods, tires, tornadoes, etc., hospital beds are never available insuicient numbers to properly handle the large number of victims.Additionally,

' ambulances are never available in sufficient numbers to etlciently andspeedily transport a large number of victims to hospitals or neighboringcities where medical care can be administered. This problem of massmovement of disaster victims from the scene of disaster to eitheremergency medical stations or to hospitals of neighboring cities is aserious one which heretofore has remained unsolved due to the absence ofsuitable means for accomplishing such a movement.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide astretcher and cot combination which in periods of disaster can beemployed to remove a victim from the scene, can be used to transport thevictim to an emergency medical station or hospital, and if the needarises can be employed to serve as a cot at the emergency medicalstation or hospital.

Another object is to provide such a combination stretcher and cot whichis rugged and simple in construction, economic in cost, light in weight,easily cleaned, easily handled by stretcher bearers, and easily storedwhen not needed.

Other aims and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of two stretcher and cot combinationsembodying the invention, showing the stacked position; f

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the hinge and adjacent leg constructionof the stretcher and cot combination of Fig. l, legs in the downposition and parts having been broken away to show the internalconstruction; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the stretcher and cot combination takenalong the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In accordance with the present invention, a stacking combinationstretcher and cot is provided having a rectangular frame preferably oflight weight tubular metal, a flexible generally rectangular supportinglayer preferably of fabric such as canvas, four hinge members arrangedin two opposed pairs and positioned near opposite ends of thelongitudinal sides of the frame, and four leg members each pivotallymounted at one end to one of the hinge members and provided at the otherend with gripping means adapted to'engage and be supported by the top ofthe rectangular frame of another stretcher and cot combination. In thismanner a number of the stretcher and cot combinations of the presentinvention can be vertically stacked, one above the other, and sopositioned or transported in a minimum of space.

The leg members are secured to the rectangularv frame so that they arecapable of being pivoted between a downwardly extended position and anupwardly .folded position.

Means are provided for rmly securing the leg members in either of thesetwo positions. With the leg members in the upwardly folded position, thecombination serves as a stretcher or litter capable of bearing a victimfrom the scene of a disaster. With the leg members lowered to thedownwardly extended position, the combination serves as a cot capable oftransporting victims from the disaster scene and capable of serving asan emergency cot in a medical station or hospital.

The lower ends of the leg members are provided with gripping means sothat when functioning as cots, i. e. with leg members downwardlyextended, they can be vertically stacked with ease to as many as threeor four in height. Thus, a disaster victim can be picked up on thecombination when functioning as a stretcher, be carried thereon to atransporting vehicle at which point the legs can be lowered and thecombination, then functioning as a cot, can be stacked with othervictim-bearing cots and transported to any locality where medical careis available. At that point the cots may be brought from the vehicleindividually and restacked within the medical station.

Consequently, the victim need never be removed from his stretcher andcot combination from the time he is put aboard at the disaster scene tothe time he enters the medical station.

It has been found that stretcher and cot combinations of the inventionare easily handled as a stretcher by two bearers without discomfort tothe victim borne thereon. It has additionally been found that thestretcher and cot combinations can easily be stacked vertically by twoor three bearers to three or four cots in height without discomfort toany of the victims borne thereon.

When the stretcher and cot combinations are stacked in vehicles, such astrucks, trains and the like, it will be found desirable to tie thestacked assembly with supporting lines to insure against side capsizingdue to possible rapid turning of the vehicle.

Referring specifically to the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawing, a rectangular rigid frame member 10 of light weight tubularmetal is provided, to which a exible generally rectangular supportinglayer 11 of fabric is secured on all four sides. The rectangular framemember 10 ycomprises two U-shaped sections 12 and 13 which are joined attheir corresponding abutting edges by two tubular splices 14. Thelongitudinal sides of supporting layer of fabric 11 are stitched to formtwo sleeves 1S throughwhich sections 12 and 13 of frame member 10 andsplices 14 lit, thereby securing supporting layer 11 to the longitudinalsides of rectangular frame member 10. The horizontal ends of supportinglayer 11 are secured to frame member 10 by means of lashing thongs 18,and grommets 19 are provided to prevent tearing of supporting layer 11by the lashing thongs 18. By unlashing thongs 18 at one end ofrectangular frame member 10 the U-shaped section (12 or 13) at that endof the rectangular frame member can be slipped out of tubular splice 14,thereby permitting folding of the cot so that it can be more easilystored when not in use.

Four hinge members 20, 21, 22, and 23 are arranged in two opposed pairs,20-21 and 22-23, and secured near opposite ends of the longitudinalsides of frame member 10 by means of rivets or bolts 25. Portions ofsupporting layer 11 are cut back from rectangular frame member 10 as at26 in the areas where the hinge members are secured to the framemembers. The hinge members are constructed of metal and pass over andbear on the top surface of frame member 10 and project below the tubularframe member on both sides forming a space therebetween in which the legmembers 27 are pivotally mounted by bolts 28. Bushings 29 surround bolts28 and pass through leg members 27 thereby preventing crimping andshearing of the leg members. The lower .end of each hinge member is bentto form a base plate or bracket 30. When leg members 27 are pivoted tothe upwardly folded position the stretcher will rest on the four baseplates 30 of hinge members 20, 21, 22 and 23. The base plates alsoprovide stiffness to the hinge member in the horizontal plane whenspreader bars 32 are bolted in place by nuts 33. Borings 31 are providedto receive casters or shock absorbers which may be mounted in base plate30 when found desirable. When casters are placed on a stretched with legmembers in the upwardly folded position, the stretcher may be employedas a dolly to convey at least two other stretchers with leg members inthe downwardly extended position stacked thereon. A stretcher carryingcasters for use as a dolly may easily be converted to a cot by loweringthe leg members since there is no interference with the casters when thelegs are moved from the upwardly folded to the downwardly extendedpositions Spreader bars 32 of metal are secured between each pair ofopposed hinge members by nuts 33, thereby strengthening tubular framemember against lateral displacement. Bushings 34 are provided wherespreader bars 32 pass through hinge members 20, 21, 22 and 23 to preventcrimping. Thus, the entire assembly of the main frame member, hingeplates, and spreader bar form a fixed and rigid combination offeringgreat resistance to torsion and deformation of the stretcher foot andleg assembly.

Leg members 27 in the downwardly extended position, as shown in theupper cot of Fig. l and in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing, bear on spreader bars32, and are restrained from pivotal movement in the other direction bypins 40 inserted through holes 41 of the hinge members. The leg membersare secured in the upwardly retracted position, as shown in the lowercot of Fig. l and in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, by pins 40inserted through holes 42 in the hinge members. Leaf springs 43,rotatably mounted on the hinge members by pins 44, are secured to pins40 and permit rotation of pins 40 from holes 41 to holes 42. By placingthe leg members in opposed pairs and at a slight angle from thevertical, greater stability is provided than would be if the leg memberswere exactly vertical. In addition, the leg members are positionedinwardly from the ends of the frame member to obtain the benefits ofcantilever loading of the frame member and permit the use of a lighterframe member by reducing bending moments and deections.

To the lower end of each leg member 27 is secured a U- shaped grippingmember 50 adapted to engage and rest on the rectangular frame 10 ofanother stretcher and cot combination in the manner shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. Gn'pping member 50 may be of forged metal and is insertedinto tubular leg members 27 of rectangular cross-section and firmlysecured thereto by screws 52 in the rear shoulder 53 of gripping members50. Borings 55 are provided through the projections of U-shaped grippingmembers 50 and adapted to receive pins 56 thereby lrmly securing gripingmembers 50 to the rectangular frame 10 of the lower supporting cot. Leafsprings 60 are rotatably mounted on leg members 27 by means of screws orrivets 61 and are provided with slots 62 in which pins 56 are held.

When it is desired to remove a cot from the supporting cot below, pins56 are removed and rotated with leaf springs 60 about pivot screws orbolts 61 and inserted in borings 63 of leg members 27. In this positionpins 56 are rmly held by leaf springs 60, cannot be lost, and will beavailable when the cot is again to be stacked.

An irrgating rod 65 for suspending blood plasma containers and the like,may be provided with each stretcher and cot combination. A suitableboring 70 may be provided in frame member 10 in which the rod may be4kept when not in use, and a further boring 71 adapted to receive rod 65for use may be provided in the frame member 10. In Fig. 1 of thedrawing, irrigating rods 65 are shown in both the stored and the usepositions.

It has been found preferable to construct the stretcher and cotcombination of the invention of extruded aluminum tubing and forgedaluminum. Such cots have proven to be strong, light in weight, andhighly resistant to moisture, salt in the atmosphere, and extremetemperature changes.

A stacked assembly of stretcher and cot combinations of the inventionexhibits remarkable stability to racking and slipping. Due to theconstruction of the hinge members, a lateral bending (side overturning)load is not transmitted to a single hinged or pivoted point but isabsorbed by the entire length of the hinge members which enclose aconsiderable length of the leg members acting somewhat like a vise.Longitudinal slipping of stacked cots is not possible due to the factthat the leg members are secured against motion in both longitudinaldirections by bearing against the hinge members of the cot below.Overturning of the entire stacked assembly of cots at the ends is not aproblem because of the end-supported manner in which the cots aresuspended by the leg members.

It has been found that a stretcher and cot combination in accordancewith the present invention can be constructed having an overall weightof less than about 16 pounds and folded storage dimensions of about 7" x26" x 43". One such combination had frame members constructed of rounddrawn aluminum alloy tubing, leg members of square aluminum alloytubing, spreader bars of aluminum alloy, gripping members of forgedaluminum alloy having shanks for insertion into the leg members, asupporting layer of hard texture, vat dried, water-repellent,mildew-resistant treated cotton duck or plastic coated duck, and otherparts of either hard aluminum alloy, cadmium plated steel, or othersuitable corrosion-resistant material. This combination had overalldimensions of 5%" x 26" x 74% when used as a stretcher, 20" x 26 x 741/2when used as a cot, and allowed a clearance of 18 between stacked cots.Stacked assemblies of these cots were tested under normal loadconditions and found to perform satisfactorily when stacked up to threein height, or the normal reach of the bearers engaged in the stackingoperation.

What is claimed is:

1. A stackable stretcher and cot combination comprising a rigidrectangular frame member; a flexible generally rectangular supportingmember secured to said frarne member; four U-shaped hinge membersarranged in two opposed pairs and secured near opposite ends of thelongitudinal sides of said rectangular frame member, each forming twospaced downward projections from said frame member; four leg membershaving first and second ends, each of said leg members pivotably mountedto one of said hinge members between said spaced projections of saidhinge members and adapted to rotate with a fixed radius about a xedpoint near said rst end between upwardly folded and downwardly extendedpositions, each of said leg members provided at said second end withgripping means adapted to be secured to and supported by the framemember of a second stretcher and cot cornbination at points on the outersides of the opposed pairs of hinge members of said second stretcher andcot combination; and rigid spreader bar means secured through saidprojections of each pair of opposed hinge members and positioned tosupport at least a portion of the weight of said stretcher and cotcombination when said leg members are in said downwardly extendedposition.

2. A stackable stretcher and cot combination comprising a rigidrectangular frame member; a flexible generally rectangular supportingmember secured to said frame member; four hinge members arranged in twoopposed pairs and secured near opposite ends of the longitudinal sidesof said rectangular frame member; and four leg members vhaving first andsecond ends, .each of said leg members pivotably mounted to one of saidhinge members and adapted to rotate with a constant radius about ayfixed point near said first end, and provided at said second end withgripping means adapted to be secured to and supported by the rectangularframe of another stretcher and cot combination whereby a plurality ofsaid stretcher and cot combinations can be stacked vertically; saidgripping means including a U-shaped projection having at least oneboring passing through the ends thereof, and a removable pin in each ofsaid borings for securing said gripping means to the rectangular frameof said other stretcher and cot combination.

3. A stretcher and cot combination in accordance with claim 2 alsocomprising leaf springs having rst and second ends, one of said leafsprings rotatably mounted at said first end on each of said leg membersand positioned to engage at the second end thereof said removable pin insaid boring of said U-shaped projection and adapted to rotate with saidpin when removed from said boring of said U-shaped projection and holdsaid pin firmly in another boring of said leg member away from saidgripping means.

4. A stackable stretcher and cot combination comprising a rigidrectangular frame member; a flexible generally rectangular supportingmember secured within said frame member on the four sides thereof; fourhinge members arranged in two opposed pairs and secured near oppositeends of the longitudinal sides of said rectangular frame member; abracket provided at the lower end of each of said hinge members andperpendicular thereto; rigid spreader bar means secured between eachpair of hinge members; four leg members having first and second ends,each of said leg members pivotally mounted to one of said hinge membersand pivotable with a constant radius about a fixed point near said rstend between a downwardly extended iirst position and an upwardly foldedsecond position; gripping means secured to said second end of said legmembers adapted to be secured to and supported by the rectangular frameof another stretcher and cot combination whereby a plurality of saidstretcher and cot combinations can be stacked vertically; and meansassociated with said hinge members for firmly securing said leg membersagainst pivotal movement in both said downwardly extended first positionand said upwardly folded second position.

5. A stretcher and cot combination in accordance with claim 4, whereinsaid gripping means includes a U-shaped projection having at least oneboring passing through the ends thereof, and a removable pin in each ofsaid borings for securing said gripping means to the rectangular frameof said other stretcher and cot combination.

6. A stretcher and cot combination in accordance with claim 4, whereinsaid brackets are provided with drillings in which casters are mountedfor supporting and transporting said stretcher and cot combinations.

7. A stretcher and cot combination in accordance with claim 5, alsocomprising leaf springs having irst and second ends, one of said leafsprings rotatably mounted at said first end on each of said leg membersand positioned to engage at the second end thereof said removable pin insaid boring of said U-shaped projection and adapted to rotate with saidpin when removed from said boring of said U-shaped projection and holdsaid pin firmly in another boring of said leg member away from saidgripping means.

S. A stackable stretcher and cot combination comprising al rigidrectangular frame member; a iiexible generally rectangular supportingmember secured to said frame member; four U-shaped hinge membersarranged in two opposed pairs and secured near opposite ends of thelongitudinal sides of said rectangular frame member, each forming twospaced downward projections from said frame member; four leg membershaving first and second ends, each of said leg members pivotably mountedto one of said hinge members between said spaced projections of saidhinge member and adapted to rotate with a fixed radius about a fixedpoint near said first end ybetween upwardly folded and downwardlyextended positions, each of said leg members provided at said second endwith gripping means adapted to be .secured to and supported by the framemember of a second stretcher and cot combination at points on the outersides of the opposed pairs of hinge members of said second stretcher andcot combination; rigid spreader bar means secured through saidprojections of each pair of opposed hinge members and positioned tosupport at least a portion of the weight of said stretcher and cotcombination when said leg members are in said downwardly extendedposition; and locking means associated with said projections of saidhinge members for holding said leg members against said spreader barmeans in said downwardly extended position.

9. A stretcher and cot combination in accordance with claim 8, whereinsaid gripping means includes a U-shaped projection having at least oneboring passing through the ends thereof, and a removable pin in each ofsaid borings for securing said gripping means to the rectangular frameof said second stretcher and cot combination.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS261,331 Frost July 18, 1882 932,479 Linxweiler Aug. 31, 1909 1,766,085Rumer June 24, 1930 1,795,435 Melzer Mar. 10, 1931 2,242,311 Lucy May20, 1941 2,396,931 Schmid Mar. 19, 1946 2,640,996 Davis June 9, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 496,506 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1938 502,951 Great BritainMar. 28, 1939

